No front brake option on FG
 

I know the 'brakes on a FG' topic has been pretty beat to death on here, but I haven't found what I'm looking for.

I picked up a Volume Cutter build a few months ago and it's been awesome. The only downside is that it was built up as a FGFS bike and has a DMR fork (i.e. - pretty much a rigid dirt jumper fork) and has no place to mount a front brake. I live in Calgary, which has it's fair share of hills and I'm not confident in my skidding ability nor am I stoked on walking down every long/steep hill I come across.

Am I good mounting a rear brake or should I look at picking up a new fork and revamping my set-up?

I wouldn't want to go rear brake only if big hills are involved, personally. If you need to brake suddenly at speed, it's just going to lock up the wheel and put you in a skid.

Perhaps a keirin brake?

Install rear brake and ride the bike backwards.

If you do the physics, you will see that a front brake will stop you in half the distance a rear brake will - on flat ground. This does not get better on the steep stuff. Ask yourself if twice the distance to stop is OK. If the answer is yes, get the best rear brake (and tire) you can find. If it is no, that you would like to stop, set your bike up with a front brake (doing what you need to make that possible).

The simple way to phrase the question might be "what are my teeth worth", or your life as it is.

Ben

How about this?

http://tracksupermarket.com/brakes-107/brake-adapter-kits/dia-compe-clamp-on-brake-set-front.html

Dave

Why not just replace the fork with something drilled?

I'm surprised this wasn't the OBVIOUS conclusion reached in the first place.

Of course this is the obvious solution, but I'd rather not buy a new fork if I don't have to. That's why I asked if there were options outside replacing the fork.

Is there a reason you can't drill the fork you have?

If you can't/don't want to drill your current fork, you're going to need a new one. None of the clamp-on Keirin brakes are going to fit the legs on your DMR fork.

For the price of most workaround solutions, you could have a new fork, with no compromises to braking.

Thanks for the input folks. Looks like I'm looking for a new fork. At least there are lots of options out there!

A good friend of mine bought one of these a week and a half ago. All of our friends said "Who the fork sells a SS/FG bike with only a rear brake." Yesterday, he broke his collarbone in two places crashing that thing. I'm sure there was fault on his part, but still... who sells a bike with only a rear brake that's not a coaster.

Answer: Critical Cycles. What do I win?

$219 for that thing...oy vey. I can see why people say bikes are expensive I wouldn't pay more than $1.50 for that thing. Their price is 146 times what it is worth, can you say mark up.

You only get partial credit. Here's the worst offender >>> Save Up to 60% Off Kilo TT Fixie and Track Bikes | Single Speed Bikes | Mercier Bikes - Kilo TT Fixed Gear Singlespeed Fixie

I had no idea they used a 1" threadless, that is sad.

Why do you think they are so cheap ? Also, 26.8mm seatpost.

Oh wow...my vintage road machine uses 26.8 but it is 531 steel and has Dura-Ace 7400 group so it can be forgiven. That bike is relatively new and they are making it with such awkward and kind of outdated sizing.